The NFL has suspended Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold indefinitely after an internal investigation found two violations of the league’s gambling policy, the league announced Friday.
According to the NFL, Gold shared confidential, non-public information about the Cardinals’ 2026 draft selections before those picks were made public. Investigators also determined that he took part in parlay bets involving both NFL and college football games. The league did not say who received the draft information.
In its statement, the NFL said the investigation found no evidence that any game was compromised. "There is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected," the league said.
The Cardinals said the matter involved one employee and that the team cooperated fully with the league. "The NFL's policies and expectations for all employees are clear, comprehensive, and consistently communicated," the team said.
Gold has spent 13 seasons with Arizona and was elevated to director of college scouting in June 2025. Before that, he served three years as assistant director of college scouting and four seasons as a college scouting coordinator.
The NFL said its review included interviews with relevant individuals and a look at electronic records. It found no sign that any other Cardinals personnel, including coaches or players, knew about or were involved in Gold’s conduct.
Gold can appeal the suspension. The case adds another entry to the league’s recent gambling enforcement history, though discipline involving front office staff is still much less common than player suspensions.
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